Former pharma exec, Christie backer seeks to oust Menendez

Michael Catalini, Associated Press

Updated 5:40 pm, Monday, February 12, 2018

Photo: Evan Vucci, AP

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FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with pharmaceutical executives including Celgene Corp.'s Executive Chairman Bob Hugin, second from right, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Hugin, who retired from the pharmaceutical firm on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, announced in a Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, email he will challenge the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., by competing for the Republican nomination in New Jersey's Tuesday, June 5, 2018, primary against technology consultant Richard Pezzullo. less

FILE - In this Jan. 31, 2017, file photo, President Donald Trump listens during a meeting with pharmaceutical executives including Celgene Corp.'s Executive Chairman Bob Hugin, second from right, in the ... more

Photo: Evan Vucci, AP

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FILE - In this April 16, 2014, file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, and Celgene Corp. CEO Bob Hugin, left, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at the pharmaceutical firm's headquarters in Summit, N.J. Hugin, who most recently served as Celgene Corp.'s executive chairman until his retirement from the firm on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, announced in a Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, email he will challenge the re-election bid of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., by competing for the Republican nomination in New Jersey's Tuesday, June 5, 2018, primary against technology consultant Richard Pezzullo. less

FILE - In this April 16, 2014, file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, right, and Celgene Corp. CEO Bob Hugin, left, participate in a groundbreaking ceremony at the pharmaceutical firm's headquarters in ... more

Photo: Mel Evans, AP

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FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2017, file photo, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., speaks during a news conference in Union Beach, N.J. Bob Hugin, who most recently served as Celgene Corp.'s executive chairman until his retirement from the pharmaceutical firm on Monday, Feb. 5, 2018, announced in a Monday, Feb. 12, 2018, email he will challenge Menendez's re-election bid by competing for the Republican nomination in New Jersey's Tuesday, June 5, 2018, primary against technology consultant Richard Pezzullo. less

FILE - In this Aug. 17, 2017, file photo, U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., speaks during a news conference in Union Beach, N.J. Bob Hugin, who most recently served as Celgene Corp.'s executive chairman until his ... more

Bob Hugin, who announced his Republican primary campaign in an email, spent nearly 20 years as a top executive at the New Jersey-based pharmaceutical company Celgene, including serving as CEO and chairman before stepping down earlier this year.

Hugin contributed $250,000 to a political action committee that backed Christie's presidential bid. He also served on the campaign's finance leadership team and contributed directly to the former Republican governor's campaign.

Menendez is a two-term incumbent heading into the midterms after federal prosecutors dropped corruption charges against him following a mistrial last year. Hugin contributed $4,800 to Menendez's campaign in 2010, according to Federal Election Commission records.

Menendez's political adviser declined to weigh in on Hugin's announcement, but the Senate Democratic campaign arm called Hugin a "rubber stamp" for President Donald Trump.

Hugin attended a discussion on drug prices with Trump at the White House in early 2017. He later called the meeting "incredibly encouraging" and described the president's agenda as "pro-growth."

The Princeton graduate and Marine Corps veteran will face Richard Pezzullo, a former Army reservist and technology specialist from Freehold, and Brian Goldberg, an IT specialist from West Orange, in the June 5 primary.

New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972. Democrats have nearly 900,000 more registered voters than Republicans in New Jersey, though unaffiliated voters make up the biggest bloc.

Celgene develops cancer treatments and inflammatory-disease therapies. Its revenues increased from $7.4 billion in 2014 to $12.8 billion in 2017.